Who Should the Red Sox Trade For?

[moonslav59]

How the hell is Dixon Machado going to help us avoid a cliff? Dude was DFA'd by the Tigers and it's not like he has JD's hitting profile from when he was waived.

 

No, I meant the guy we get in a 2 or 3 for one trade should have a better chance at helping (not avoiding by himself) the cliff- not Dixon.

 

Dixon might help, but he's a long shot.

 

[Jasonbay44]

You know, you are making too big a deal out of the offhand comment of the hat and ignoring the real problem with Rodney. His lack of control and the subsequent abundance of walks has caused tons of issues throughout his career...

How did I ignore that? I literally made a comment saying Rodney isn't an ideal target and is wildly inconsistent, but it wouldn't be an awful acquisition as he'll be cheap and is usually a pretty solid reliever.

[Jasonbay44]

Pass on Machado. I'm fine with Holt/Nunez, and wouldn't mind Phillips getting a shot.

[a700hitter]

Pass on Machado. I'm fine with Holt/Nunez, and wouldn't mind Phillips getting a shot.

What about manny Machado?

 

[h=2]Reports: Red Sox Have Recently Checked In On Manny Machado[/h]By Steve Adams | July 10, 2018 at 8:41pm CDT

The field of teams reported to be showing interest in Orioles shortstop Manny Machado is growing, as both Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun and Rich Dubroff of PressboxOnline.com (Twiter link) report that the Red Sox have recently reached out to the Orioles regarding Machado. Schmuck notes that Boston’s interest is seemingly a response to recent reports that the Yankees have again displayed some renewed interest.

The Red Sox don’t represent a perfect fit for Machado by any means, with Xander Bogaerts thriving at shortstop (.277/.351/.512) and Rafael Devers slotted in at third base. Devers, though, has struggled to the tune of a .290 OBP, and while the Sox certainly wouldn’t part with him for a Machado rental, Boston could in theory add Machado and send Devers to Triple-A Pawtucket for further development. Devers, after all, is still just 21 years of age and only played nine games in Triple-A before ascending to the Majors last year.

To this point, it’s not clear whether Boston’s interest constitutes anything more than due diligence, and there’s not yet anything to suggest that they’re embarking upon an aggressive pursuit of Machado. The Dodgers, Brewers and, to a lesser extent, the Diamondbacks were said to be the most most aggressive parties on the Machado front as recently as this afternoon, with the Cubs and Cardinals both now said to be largely out of the mix.

As ever, it’s worth bearing in mind that most contending clubs will at least gauge the price tag on most of the top trade pieces available. The Red Sox have reportedly been scouting Baltimore’s Zach Britton in recent weeks anyhow, and it’s fairly logical to expect that if they were inquiring with the Orioles on Britton, they’d at the very least check in on the Machado price tag. Players of Machado’s caliber are rarely available on the summer trade market, after all, and acquiring him represents something of a rare opportunity for any contender — particularly one in a tightly contested division race such as the current AL East.

Boston is a particularly difficult fit for the Machado, though, given the money he’s owed through season’s end and the luxury tax penalization the Sox would incur if payroll hiked much further north. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported at the time of the Steve Pearce trade that the money the Blue Jays sent to the Red Sox in that deal helped keep Boston’s luxury tax ledger just south of $237MM.

That’s an important figure, because despite the fact that much of the focus with regard to the luxury tax is placed on the initial $197MM barrier, there are increasingly steep penalties for exceeding that threshold by more than $40MM. Namely, the Sox would be taxed at a hefty 42.5 percent clip for any amount over that $237MM mark and, more significantly, would have their top pick in next June’s amateur draft knocked back by 10 spots. Machado is currently owed about $7.05MM through season’s end, and the Red Sox’ luxury tax payroll (per Cot’s Contracts) sat at $235.325MM before even accounting for the $1.5MM they took on in the Pearce trade. That figure is an estimate, of course, it nonetheless demonstrates that the Sox are only narrowly south of that threshold.

It’s certainly possible that the Sox have genuine interest in adding Machado to the mix, recognizing that they’re in a close battle for the division and that every win will prove crucial to avoiding a one-game Wild Card playoff. However, given Boston’s luxury tax situation, an already-crowded left side of the infield and a thin farm system, it’s difficult to see them emerging as a top suitor for Machado.

[mvp 78]

What about manny Machado?

 

Nope

[a700hitter]

Nope

For Beeks and Travis?

[moonslav59]

For Beeks and Travis?

 

Throw enough cash to stay under the max line, add Chavis and yes.

[mvp 78]

For Beeks and Travis?

 

Nobody wants Travis.

[notin]

For Beeks and Travis?

 

If the Orioles do that, throw in Dan Butler and see if that’s enough for them to include Dylan Bundy...

[notin]

Nobody wants Travis.

 

Every organization has a Sam Travis already...

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Nobody wants Travis.

 

Good chance that no one wants Chavis either, or, won't give up significant value for him. Who wants a PED culture in their locker room or minor league system?

 

With that said, the Brew crew would probably trade R.Braun for Chavis.

[a700hitter]

Nobody wants Travis.

But there is a price that you would be willing to part with for Manny Machado?

[Larry Cook]

When do the Sox activate Phillips?

[Natick to NC]

Beeks after tonight has 0 worth it's gone .Beeks maybe the 5 th player in a mega deal but that's all he is now .Beeks should not see another shot this year and may need a new team after what he's shown here in Boston .some players just can't handle Boston and Fenway

[Natick to NC]

When do the Sox activate Phillips?

 

I hope tonight

[Spudboy]

Beeks after tonight has 0 worth it's gone .Beeks maybe the 5 th player in a mega deal but that's all he is now .Beeks should not see another shot this year and may need a new team after what he's shown here in Boston .some players just can't handle Boston and Fenway

 

Not so sure about this. I think the guy may have decent stuff. Not overwhelming stuff, but functional stuff.

 

He does seem to be nervous but I am just assuming that.

 

He will be back up.

 

Sox won't give up on him after just two appearances. They need him now with 3 starters on the shelf.

[Spudboy]

I hope tonight

 

So you think that he can provide an immediate upgrade over Holt?

[jacksonianmarch]

If the price drops enough, I could absolutely see the Sox getting Machado. Throw him at 2b and roll with a stupid lineup

[Slasher9]

Machado replacing the all star player who’s career he ended with that bush league slide would be too ironic for even the Red Sox

 

Although they did give price 7 years the offseason after he threw at David ortiz’s Head so I guess maybe not....

[jacksonianmarch]

Your lineup is already good 1-5. Adding Machado would make it deadly

[notin]

Why in the world would this guy be any good for the Sox?

 

He is a .220 hitter with a .285 OBP for his career.

 

We have two better players on the roster who can cover 2nd. Plus Swihart.

 

Next.

 

Well, the argument hinged on his very low BABIP when compared to his line drive rate and hard hit rate. Very similar to how many on this board were (correctly) predicting Jackie Bradley would eventually break out of his slump using similar criteria.

 

Brock Holt hasa similar line drive rate to Dixon Machado and a lower hard hit rate, but has a BABIP a full .102 higher, which means he might be due for a little regression to the mean himself. And Nunez has not been getting it done with either the glove or the bat this year and he is barely outhitting Machado while playing worse defense by the metrics. Health is probably a factor, but will he ever be fully healthy this year?

 

The Sox do have the mercurial Brandon Phillips as an option. But having two options is usually better than having just one.

[notin]

Not so sure about this. I think the guy may have decent stuff. Not overwhelming stuff, but functional stuff.

 

He does seem to be nervous but I am just assuming that.

 

He will be back up.

 

Sox won't give up on him after just two appearances. They need him now with 3 starters on the shelf.

 

Beeks isn't very good. Hopefully they won't need him for much...

[notin]

Is there a CFer or some other OFer with good offense who can be had for Bradley and little else. He just doesn’t seem close to achieving offensive consistency.

 

Reportedly the Sox had the chance to deal Bradley for Yasiel Puig before the season started. While Puig is not a CF, he is a solid RF and Betts is elite in any outfield spot.

 

The idea of dealing Bradley for another CF seems like an odd match for any team, especially straight up. Someone will be downgrading and the deal would be imbalanced. Granted, there might be an instance where it works, like one team wants more defense, and one more offense. But then the Sox are near the top ofthe league in most offensive categories, So why try to slightly improve there while weakening the defense?

 

Now the Sox might be able to deal Bradley for a RF (like the Puig deal) and move Betts to CF. Not sure what team matches up although since Bradley has 2+ years left, it might not necessarily be a team looking to stay in contention this year...

[a700hitter]

Reportedly the Sox had the chance to deal Bradley for Yasiel Puig before the season started. While Puig is not a CF, he is a solid RF and Betts is elite in any outfield spot.

 

The idea of dealing Bradley for another CF seems like an odd match for any team, especially straight up. Someone will be downgrading and the deal would be imbalanced. Granted, there might be an instance where it works, like one team wants more defense, and one more offense. But then the Sox are near the top ofthe league in most offensive categories, So why try to slightly improve there while weakening the defense?

 

Now the Sox might be able to deal Bradley for a RF (like the Puig deal) and move Betts to CF. Not sure what team matches up although since Bradley has 2+ years left, it might not necessarily be a team looking to stay in contention this year...

Puig has a strained side or something right now. He has a lot of trouble staying on the field.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Your lineup is already good 1-5. Adding Machado would make it deadly

 

Well, that settles it. If Jacko thinks it's a good idea for the Sox, I'm running fast in the opposite direction. Or, put another way:

 

If'n Jacko's fer it, than I'm agin it!

[Jack Flap]

The Red Sox are blanketing the relief market, and they're aiming higher than just a depth piece. Craig Kimbrel is a free agent in November, and the Sox are looking for a reliever who's an upgrade rather than a complement to Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes, et al.

 

"They're not just looking to get an eighth-inning reliever'' said an evaluator for a competing club. "They're looking to get a guy. A real guy.''

 

The Red Sox sent a top evaluator to watch Miami's Kyle Barraclough, and one source said they checked in with Colorado on Wade Davis. It's tough to see that deal getting much traction, given that the Rockies are 4 ½ games out in the NL West and Davis is in the first year of a $52 million contract.

 

San Diego is loaded with tradable bullpen assets in Brad Hand, Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen. But the Padres withheld Drew Pomeranz's medical records when they traded him to Boston in 2016, and the ill will ran deep enough that it's hard to imagine A.J. Preller being at the top of Dave Dombrowski's call list.

 

Any evaluation by the Red Sox has to factor in the hyper-intense pressure in the Boston market. Barraclough has been dominant in Miami. But how would he react when he faces Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez before 45,000 fans in the Bronx? That's always something the big-market clubs have to consider. The Yankees are mindful of it each time Sonny Gray takes the mound and perpetuates the "certain guys can't handle playing in New York'' narrative this summer.

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24057648/trade-talk-hearing-manny-machado-alternative-more

[Natick to NC]

So you think that he can provide an immediate upgrade over Holt?

 

No no no.I do want him backing holt up not Nuney .Nuney to me looks more comfortable at third backing Devers .

[notin]

Puig has a strained side or something right now. He has a lot of trouble staying on the field.

 

I doubt they trade Bradley anyway, but the point is it might make more sense to deal for a RF who can hit...

[notin]

Your lineup is already good 1-5. Adding Machado would make it deadly

 

Unless the Sox add Dixon Machado

[Natick to NC]

Well, that settles it. If Jacko thinks it's a good idea for the Sox, I'm running fast in the opposite direction. Or, put another way:

 

If'n Jacko's fer it, than I'm agin it!

 

Belly laugh on this !!! You never trust a Yankee fan this time of year .